Girl attacked by pit bull puppies released from hospital; charges yet to be filed

LEBANON, Maine — A 12-year-old girl attacked by her family’s dogs has been released from a New Hampshire hospital.

The girl, who suffered more than 12 bites when the pit bulls attacked her on Saturday afternoon, was released from Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.H., on Sunday, according to Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland.

McCausland said Monday the incident remains under investigation, and the case has been forwarded to the York County District Attorney’s office for review.

York County District Attorney Kathryn Slattery said Monday criminal charges have yet to be filed in the case.

She said the decision will be made upon the conclusion of the investigation by the DA’s office and state police.

The 7-month-old dogs named Jager and Meister, who have since been quarantined at a Kennebunk animal shelter, bit the victim on her legs and shoulder.

The incident occurred at the Lebanon residence of Catherine Sargent, the girl’s mother, and her fiancé, Rory Downs, according to McCausland.

The dogs belong to Downs, according to McCausland. The victim and her sister managed to climb into a pickup truck in the yard to escape the dogs after Adam Horr, 41, of Dover, N.H., who was visiting a neighbor nearby, fended the animals off by kicking them and hitting them with a broom.